Lazy days of Summer? NOT!

Summer has arrived! Lest you think your RFTC committee is out tanning by the side of the pool, think again--Donna has us busy as bees! Fundraising, organizing, getting the registration site ready for operation, just all kinds of good things.

In case you haven't gotten a Team Captain letter, go to the link listed here and read all the good happenings that are coming your way!

http://www.komenarkansas.org/assets/images/team-captain-letter.pdf

Don't forget the Team Captains' Party which is July 18th at 2pm! We will be looking forward to seeing old friends and new.

Looking for something for the kids to do this month? Check out the Kids for the Cure^® t-shirt design contest which is being sponsored by Burger King & KATV Channel 7.

The Arkansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is hosting a T-shirt design contest for the Kids for the Cure^® program, part of this year’s Arkansas Race for the Cure in downtown Little Rock on October 16, 2010. Kids will have the opportunity to register for the Race as a Kids for the Cure^® participant.

The Arkansas Affiliate invites children 12 and under to submit an original drawing for our Kids for the Cure® T-shirt. The winning artwork will be used as the signature design on the 1,500 T-shirts ordered for this program.
The rules for the competition are:

Artwork must be submitted on 8 ½” x 11” white paper or cardstock and mailed flat (folded paper cannot be formatted for T-shirt printing) to Komen Race for the Cure, 904 Autumn Road, Ste 500, Little Rock, AR 72211, by Monday, June 14.

Incorporating the theme of this year’s Race: “we > me” is suggested.

Design should incorporate the Komen pink ribbon somewhere in the art.

Only markers should be used in the artworks. Do not use crayons or colored pencils, as they do not transfer well onto T-shirts.

On the back of the artwork, please include the following in pencil:
Designer’s Name and Age
Name of school
Year in school
Home address
Parent or Guardian’s name
Contact telephone number and email address

By submitting a design, the designer and the designer’s parent or guardian consent to the entries becoming the property of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and agree to the entry being used for promotional purposes. Entries will not be returned.

The winners and their parents or guardians will be asked to attend the 2K Family Walk on October 16, 2010, as part of the Race Festivities. The entries will be judged by a panel of judges based upon creativity, neatness and the overall spirit of the Race for the Cure®. The judges’ decision is final.

Funds from the Race for the Cure® are used to help eliminate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease and are used for education, screening, treatment and research programs.

*Hard copies of this are available at the following participating Burger King locations:
Benton: Congo Road Bryant: Reynolds Road
Cabot: Bill Foster Memorial Hwy, West Main Hot Springs: Central Ave, Grant Ave
Little Rock: Rodney Parham, East Broadway, Chenal Parkway, Cantrell, Col. Glenn
Malvern: Martin Luther King Blvd
North Little Rock: East McCain, Camp Robinson Road, Maumelle Blvd
Pine Bluff: North Blake Street, Olive Street
Sheridan: Hwy 167
Sherwood: East Kiehl

New for 2010--the Team Captains Facebook group! This will take the place of the 2009 Race's Komen Captains. The group name is "AR RFTC Team Captains."
While you are browsing Facebook, don't forget to check out our other pages--"Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure: Arkansas" and the "Komen for the Cure Arkansas--3 Miles of Men."

Danielle Smith held her annual "Ropin' for a Cure" over Memorial Day weekend in Rosebud, AR. It was a great event and raised lots of money. Everyone had a great time. Way to go, Danielle!

The next committee meeting will be June 16 at noon.

For other information and upcoming events, you can follow our blog. If you have a Komen event, please let us know!

Have a fun summer!

Kids for the Cure

Kids for the Cure t-shirt contest is open!
Click here to download the 2010 Kids for the Cure t-shirt design contest rules. Children 12 and under. Deadline June 14. Sponsored by KATV Channel 7 and Burger King.

Also, save the date! First Kids for the Cure event to be held on October 3.

Have a great and safe weekend,
Jill

Lovely (and busy!) Month of May 2010

Hi y'all!

This has been a very busy month for us all, and summer hasn't even started yet! I want to thank Jill for covering for me at last month's meeting--thank you so much. I did get to attend the latest meeting, which was last Wednesday, May 19th.

I love listening to Donna Easley talk--she began by telling us about the Arkansas Travelers' Mother's Day game. The Travelers all wore pink jerseys, which were auctioned off after the game. She was modeling one for us- If you want one, save your pennies & come next year for your chance at a stylin' pink jersey!


Note from Jill: Above, Donna (right) is sporting the 2009 jersey while I (left) was honored to be presented with the new 2010 style jersey. Thank you, Donna!!!! Below, Donna is chair of the 17th Race (2010) and I will chair the 18th Race (2011). Fun times!!!!!!!


In case you haven't seen it already, our 2010 Race theme this year is (drum roll, please):

we > me

Just think about this--we can accomplish so much more as a team than just 1 person. There is so much strength when two or more are in this together. So, how can you accomplish this? Simple: become a Team Captain. Encourage your whole team to fundraise. Volunteer. Join together as a team to find a cure for breast cancer. This year is even more personal for me as one of my "church mommas" has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. So I will be there with my church, my team, and you all to help find a cure for this disease. "Bring it on breast cancer...we've got the passion and the power to take you down!"

Watch this video from the creative minds at Thoma Thoma. Specific details about the race will be sent next week. Use this link to watch on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wGzQXTQVfs).

And we are happy to report that the Sponsorship committee is doing an outstanding job obtaining donations this year. Thanks to so many of you all, and to new Sponsors such as Go Running, that just opened up in the Heights. They will be a sponsor for the "27 minutes and under" runners so go visit the good folks at Go Running and support them. They have lots of great merchandise. Check them out when you go shopping for your RFTC gear.

Alana Harris is sending out the Team Captains Newsletter -- she worked really hard on it, and it is chock full of great information for all the Team Captains. So be on the lookout for your copy.

Such items include:
The Team Captain Kick-Off Party which will be July 18, 2010 at 2pm at the Patrick Henry Hays Senior Citizens Center in North Little Rock. "This will be a time to ask questions, visit with other team captains, learn more about activities leading up to the Race, and learn what a vital role you can play when it comes to educating people, ensuring quality care for all, and energizing science to find the cures."

New for 2010 concerning Teams Communication, announcements will be made through two methods of communication:
1) The Team Captain Facebook group! This will take the place of the 2009 Komen Captains. If you are looking for us on Facebook, the group name is "AR RFTC Team Captains." While you are on Facebook (and we know you are!) be sure to become a fan of these great pages: "Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure: Arkansas" (We now have over 10,000 fans!) and "Komen for the Cure Arkansas- 3 Miles of Men" (they have over 400 fans on Facebook!)
2) You can also follow our blog designed specifically for our Team Captains at http://arrfcteams.blogspot.com. Here you will find general team info, list of upcoming activities, and tips to help you Race for the Cure! Some of the hot topics include Fundraising Ideas, Recruiting team members, Team Captains Members, Team Captains blog, Team Captains Facebook group, Team Registration, Team SPIRIT!! and, last but not least, prizes!

We are still looking for door prizes, so please let us know if you have some that you or your group or business would like to donate.

Other news going on:
"Kids for the Cure" will be looking for a new design for this year's race. Information has been sent out to Benton schools and the LR schools. Burger King, as a sponsor for the event, will put Kids for the Cure t-shirt contest rules in their kids' meal boxes. Oct. 3rd will be the first ever event for Kids for the Cure. It will be a race of about one mile and will take place on the State Capitol grounds. More details later.

The Pasta Party people are looking for ways to have Macaroni Grill prepare the food for the party directly at Dickey Stephens Park; if you have any ideas or equipment they can borrow, please contact us. Thanks!

The Arkansas Affiliate has won another award! From the Wesley Chapel United Method Church comes the "Outstanding Womens Service Award". Awesome! What dedicated folks we have--you all get gold stars.


Finally, don't forget to mark your calendars for Sept. 12! Arkansas Skatium on Bowman will host their annual fundraiser for Komen, Skate for the Cure, by showcasing up and coming talents from the ice skating world. The cost is $10 to get in, with $8 going to Komen.

So much info, but so much fun! Thanks again to Jill for covering for me last month.

Peace and Hugs,
--
Judi
royalpinkbeatle@gmail.com

p.s. Don't forget Ropin' 4 a Cure at Smith Arena in Rose Bud this Saturday and Sunday. Click here for details.

April 2010

Sorry for the delay in reporting to you on the latest Race Committee meeting. It has been crazy!

The meeting was held on Wednesday, April 21, and started with tears and laughter with the showing of the 2009 Race video. You can access it here. You might want to have your tissue handy.

Donna issued a challenge to have 10,000 "people who like us" (fans was much easier to type) in Facebook by the end of April. If you're a facebooker, please join us at Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure: Arkansas.


Melissa and Wade with Thoma & Thoma were our special guests today.


They have been working with Donna on this year's theme and have lots of exciting plans. The theme, you ask?


The grants luncheon took place on March 31. $1.2 million were given to 24 grantees. Sherrye also reported that UAMS has been given a Promise Grant from national in collaboration with several other organizations to give a "vaccine" to women considered high risk for breast cancer. Is the CURE around the corner?????

Committee Reports:

Online Fundraising is working on the Hot Pink Heroes Luncheon, t-shirts and prizes.

E-Chair - please let Ann know if you have anything to communicate. Angela is looking for stories about interesting people for the blog.

Sponsorship has certainly been busy recruiting new and returning sponsors for the Race. Channel 7 will be on stage this year. Thanks to Thoma & Thoma, we have a beautiful color sponsorship brochure this year, and we have added some special sponsorship opportunities. A new addition this year is a Kids for the Cure sponsor, Burger King. This announcement was made by Ann Brown in costume.


Another new sponsorship this year is the Block Adoptions. This sponsorship provides the company/organization/individual with a 3' x 5' banner of their logo in the intersection of their designated block. The cost is $1000. Let us know if you are interested.

Kids for the Cure is working on a new event this year--an actual race for the kids! We don't have details yet, but this will NOT be on Race Day. Kickoff of the t-shirt contest will take place at Dino Dash and we will be contacting school art teachers to encourage them to have their students participate.

Training Program - Tbyrd promises that participants will do the race at a whole new level. Walkers to joggers to runners to racers. They will work on both health and fitness. The 6-week program will begin just after Labor Day and will meet at War Memorial Stadium on Tuesdays and Thursdays with one Wednesday. There will be a $10 fee.

Three Miles of Men has also issued a Facebook challenge to have 400 "people who like us" by the end of April. Again, if you are a facebooker, please join us at Komen for the Cure Arkansas- 3 Miles of Men.

Put a Fork In It is looking for new and returning restaurants to participate. Also, KFC currently has a promo with their Buckets for a Cure. For every pink bucket, they will donate 50 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. A KFC in Lexington, KY painted their store pink. You can also go to www.bucketsforacure.com and post a breast cancer story or message.

Executive Director Report:
Sherrye reported that BreastCare has less money for their program. We are working on public policy......
Kelly Kreth received the National Co-survivor Award.
The Travs will once again auction pink jerseys at their game on Mothers Day at Dickey Stephens Park.

The meeting closed with Donna presenting door prizes to Melissa and Wade--no, not the crown.


I know that Judi's reports are more exciting, but she was unable to attend. Pray that she is healthy and available for the next meeting.

Jill

Mother's Day Weekend Events

Plans for the weekend?

If not, check out the Diamonds and the Travelers games this weekend. Both are doing something to benefit Komen!

The Arkansas Diamonds Arena Football Game
Saturday, May 8th
7:00 PM
Verizon Arena, North Little Rock
A portion of ticket sales are being donated to the AR Affiliate

The Arkansas Travelers Baseball Game
Sunday, May 9th
2:00 PM
Dickey Stephens Park, North Little Rock
The players will be wearing pink jerseys that will be autographed and auctioned - with all proceeds benefiting Komen.

Happy Mother's Day,
Jill

Very Important Dates

Yes, it is spring here in Arkansas.
How can we tell? The flowers are popping up all over, and the Komen calendar is beginning to bloom with all sorts of activities!

This weekend, April 17 -18, the 3rd annual Kick for the Cure Adult Soccer Tournament will be held at Burns Park in North Little Rock. Komen will have an education booth set up during the tournament and we are in need of volunteers to help staff it. If you are interested, the shifts are:
9 AM to Noon - Need 1 or 2 people
Noon - 5 PM - Need 1 or 2 people
Please let Emily Story know if you are interested in volunteering this weekend. You may contact her at
(501) 202-4399
(501) 975-2502 fax or http://www.komenarkansas.org/

If you can't volunteer, then take your family out for a fun weekend. All the proceeds will benefit the Arkansas Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation.

Don't put your calendars away just yet--for on May 29- May 30, 2010 at the Smith Arena in Rose Bud, Arkansas, Danielle Smith will be hosting Ropin' 4 a Cure! This event, in memory of her mother Betty Smith, promises lots of action as cowboys dressed in Pink will be lassoing their hearts out for a good cause.
For more information please email smith.arena@yahoo.com or go to their website at http://www.smitharena.com/
Again, all proceeds will go toward the Arkansas Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Then as we go through summer, we gear up for our highly anticipated Team Captains' Party!
The Party will be at the Patrick Henry Hays Center in North Little Rock at 2 pm. We are looking forward to seeing your smiling faces there, as well as welcoming all the new Team Captains.

Remember to keep this date circled in pink on your calendar:
October 16, 2010--the 17th annual Komen Arkansas Race for the Cure will be happening in downtown Little Rock!

We will have more activities coming your way, so leave plenty of room on your datebook.

Now, go out and enjoy those flowers!

peace & hugs,
Judi
royalpinkbeatle@gmail.com

Beginnings....

Spring is here; change is in the air; and are you ready to get running? I hope so, because Donna Easley, our 2010 Chair, held the first Committee meeting on March 17th to begin planning the 2010 Komen Arkansas Race for the Cure. Everyone met at the Komen affiliate office, and Papa John's once again provided us with their delicious pizza.
Donna reminded everyone, first and foremost, to take care of you. Remember, that is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Then we headed off into Race Committee introductions, and afterwards, the reporting began fast & furious.
Ellen Kreth, 2009 Race Chair, announced that we raised almost $2 million, and over 45,000 people registered for the 2009 Race. She then reminded everyone that 75% of all money raised stays here in Arkansas, and the other 25% goes to National, but it all goes toward research.

By the time we'd had our first meeting, $112,000 had been raised already--which is a good start toward our goal this year of $2 million.
We'd also like to mention that Ellen's husband, Kelly, has won a Komen National Co-Survivor award. This is one of 6 National Awards given out by Komen each year. Yeah Kelly! Ellen wrote a very touching letter about Kelly's support and love for her when she was diagnosed and through her treatment.

The Sponsorship committee reported that they have a new sponsorship packet, which Thoma Thoma produced this year. Many of our great sponsors have returned this year such as Papa John's and Kimberly-Clark. Russell LeMay will be sponsoring the Port a Potties.
A change for this year: a new program called Block Adoption. We will have 33 blocks offered for $1000 each. These blocks will be printed with the sponsors' business logos along the Race route. So if you know of a business who would like to sponsor a block, please let us know. This is a quick and easy way to get your business' logo out to at least 45,000 racers.
Mark your calendars: The Team Captains Party will be July 18th at the Patrick Henry Hays Center in North Little Rock. Last year's party was set up as a health fair/pep rally, and it was such a success that the same format will be used again. We do need 10 door prizes for the Team Captains Party. (Side note: I was a Team Captain last year, and I won the pearl necklace earring set that was donated by JC Penney. You wouldn't believe all the compliments I get whenever I wear them.) If you have an item you would like to donate, please contact us.
The committee for "Because I Care" is thinking of changing the name, as some people are confused by what it means. So that committee will be busy thinking of new names while they are also doing more work to simplify online fundraising.
They would also like to work with the Teams Committee to start a mentoring program for Team Captains to increase fundraising participation. If anyone has any ideas about this--please let us know. Being a Team Captain can be a bit confusing at times, and so having someone to contact to ask about registrations, shirts, etc. would be a great help. Stay tuned for more info.
The Race Brochure will be circulated at the next meeting for all to make necessary changes.
Ellen started a great new Training program last year as an opportunity for Race participants to get in shape for the race. They will offer it again this year, and Tjuana Byrd (TByrd) has agreed to chair the program again. (Go TByrd!) (Another side note: I ran into a sorority sister I hadn't seen in quite some time because her mother & I both participated in the fitness program last fall.)
The 2010 Pasta Party is planned for Dickey-Stephens Park on October 15th; they are working to improve the sound system so that everyone will be able to hear.
The Registration committee has lots of new faces that will be helping out at the Race Space, which will again be at the Pleasant Ridge Shopping Centre. Think about having your team volunteer this year at the Race Space--you will meet a lot of the friendly Komen folks, plus you get a chance to do some early Christmas shopping, all while helping a great cause.
The E-Chair folks are working on our Facebook pages as well as tweeting on Twitter. Check it out and let us know what you think.
Whew! So much news and that was just our first meeting! Remember, the reason why we are an award winning affiliate is because of YOU, our hardworking volunteers, friends, families, and participants. YOU are the reason we are the FOURTH largest Race in the world, and because of you, we are well on our way to winning the race against breast cancer.
Until next time,

Peace and hugs
Judi King
royalpinkbeatle@gmail.com